Journal of the San Juan Islands – Coal cargo terminal at Cherry Point raises concern

February 3, 2012 – Journal of the San Juan Islands – The San Juan Islands could see a dramatic increase in marine vessel traffic if the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal were constructed. This increased marine traffic could have a significant impact on the Salish Sea ecosystem.

“In the San Juan islands, 95 percent of the herring that is available to be eaten comes from the shallows around Cherry Point,” said Russell Barsh, director of Kwiaht, the Lopez-based Center for the Historical Ecology of the Salish Sea. “Cherry Point is the last remaining spawning area that hasn’t been severely impacted by people, and a coal terminal there would have a huge negative impact. Herring is the basis for marine life in the central Salish sea, and we don’t have enough as it is to support seals, dolphins, salmon, and sea birds.”

Other potential problems include:

loss of tourism, customers, business revenues, and jobs, and damage to the islands’ quality of life

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